Surge continues to slow Minnesota infection count

Minnesota health officials reported 42 additional deaths Monday due to the coronavirus pandemic. There were also 12,722 new confirmed infections.

Infections are undercounted, with the current surge in cases slowing the processing of positive cases, health officials said. An estimated 46,000 such cases were awaiting review as of Monday’s report. The latest wave of infections is fueled by the highly contagious omicron variant.

Among the most recent deaths were four in Washington and Ramsey counties, two in Anoka and Dakota counties and 15 in Hennepin County. The total number of pandemic-related deaths in the state has now reached 11,193, according to health officials.

The latest confirmed infections are from across the state, including:

• Anoka County: 525.
• Dakota County: 536.
• County of Hennepin: 1,732.
• Ramsey County: 638.
• Washington County: 241.

The state’s total number of positive cases is now 1,229,444, though officials note there are likely many more actual cases, from early testing shortages in the pandemic to the use of home testing. now that are not reported to the state for processing delays. Of these, 38,230 are reinfections from people who have contracted the virus more than once.

There are 1,566 patients in Minnesota hospitals with COVID-19, including 238 in an intensive care unit. The surge has congested area medical centers, with 45% of Minnesota hospitals saying they have no additional adult beds; and of those with intensive care beds, 72% say they are all full.

More than 9 million doses of vaccine have been administered in Minnesota, including nearly 2 million boosters. The state has 3,575,871 residents who have completed the series of vaccinations, or nearly 69% of the eligible population.

The breakthrough case count of vaccinated Minnesotans who tested positive for the virus was 234,110, health officials said. Deaths linked to breakthrough cases have risen to 1,304. The elderly and immunocompromised are most at risk.

Health officials say vaccines, along with booster doses, are the best way to avoid serious infection and slow the spread of the coronavirus. Other mitigation measures, such as social distancing and mask-wearing, are also encouraged.